Views are exchanged on health exchange [Star Tribune, Minneapolis]

Jan. 19--A 13-member government task force on Wednesday debated a list of basic principles for a Minnesota health care exchange, highlighting strongly divergent views about the role health insurance plans and brokers should play.

The hot-button topic remains what type of body should govern the exchanges, a key component of the 2010 federal healthcare reform law that calls for the creation of a competitive marketplace in whcih individuals and businesses can comparison shop for health insurance.

Industry representatives argued that their expertise in health care will bring efficiencies to the process, while community-based panel members worried about conflicts of interest and leaving out consumers and marginalized communities.

The divisions showed up in discussions about the size of the board of directors. Advocates such as Sue Abderholden, executive director of the Minnesota Alliance on Mental Illness and Dorii Gbolo, CEO of Open Cities Health Center, swayed the group to vote in favor of a larger board of 15 to 20 members.

They were among those arguing that a larger group opened the way for more community involvement that might address health care disparities in the state.

As for the makeup of the board, Phillip Cryan, a health policy specialist with the Service Employees International Union in St. Paul, wanted to draw a "bright line" and prohibit anyone working for or affiliated with insurers or brokers.

Dannette Coleman, a vice president and general manager at Medica, argued against an "us versus them" mind-set. She argued that having a few board members who work in the insurance industry would be vital, given that they know how to run call centers and have expertise in handling millions of claims a year.

"We're not selling hammers on the exchange," she said.

In the end, the task force voted on a compromise that limited board members with conflicts of interest to a "small minority."

The task force is chaired by Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman, whose office will regulate the exchanges. The group's action on Wednesday was the first major step in the process of designing the exchange.

Jackie Crosby --612-673-7335

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